Chapter 4
Lily’s breathing grew shallow and rapid, her small chest rising and falling in erratic bursts. The warmth of the luxurious dining room suddenly felt suffocating. She looked at Dominic, her natural micro-expressions betraying a lifetime of conditioned fear. The man sitting next to her was wealthy and powerful, his dark hair and bespoke charcoal-gray shirt projecting absolute authority, but she knew better than anyone that powerful men were often the most dangerous.
"Please, sir," Lily whispered, her voice cracking as she pressed her cheek against Noah’s soft blanket. "We didn't mean to cause any trouble. We just needed a little food. We can leave right now."
"You are not leaving," Dominic stated, his tone leaving absolutely no room for negotiation. "Not until you tell me who put their hands on you. I protect what comes into my house. Tell me his name."
Before Lily could process the weight of his promise, a heavy vibration resonated through the thick glass windows of the restaurant’s front facade. Lily’s frightened eyes instantly darted away from Dominic, flicking toward the grand entrance of the dining room that overlooked the street.
Through the sheer curtains of the window, the sleek, menacing silhouette of a black sedan slowly pulled up to the curb, its headlights cutting through the evening mist. The heavy engine idled ominously outside.
Lily’s face completely drained of color. The faint, rosy hue of her skin vanished, replaced by an ashen, ghost-like pallor. Her hands began to shake so violently that she nearly dropped the baby's bottle.
Dominic followed her terrified gaze. His body language shifted instantly. The restrained, quiet billionaire vanished, completely replaced by the ruthless Chicago mafia boss. He didn't speak a word, but his bodyguards read his posture perfectly. The three men in charcoal suits silently and seamlessly turned their backs to the table, stepping outward to form a highly trained, protective perimeter around the children, their hands resting decisively on the concealed weapons beneath their jackets.
Panic overtook Lily. Driven by sheer, unadulterated terror, she reached out across the table and grabbed Dominic’s tattooed forearm with both of her small hands. Her grip was desperate, her tiny fingers pressing into the dark ink on his skin.
Noah, sensing his sister's spiking heart rate, began to fuss, a weak, high-pitched cry echoing from the blue-and-gray blanket.
May you like
"That’s him," Lily gasped, her eyes filling with absolute panic, tears welling over her lower lashes. Her voice was barely above a whisper, terrified, frantic, and desperately urgent. She looked directly into Dominic’s piercing gray-blue eyes, delivering a revelation that made the temperature in the room plummet.
"And he works for you."
